Introduction to 2014 digital business trends

Simplogy?s digital business consultants and their associates present the industry’s leading compilation of trends and predictions in digital business media, marketing, advertising, technology, education and related areas.

This is the fifth year when we have produced this annual list and it?s getting better with inputs from not just Simplogy but also our associates and partners.

Our comments on these reviews and trends

2013 has once again shown how rapidly technology is evolving and how the early adopters have benefitted massively in terms of garnering a sizable market and thus proving to be extremely competitive. Analytics, Social media, Cloud computing and mobile have been the main high points that will dominate the 2014 technology landscape. Augmented reality and gamification across a range of categories too will be in vogue in 2014. Also, as demonstrated by the weather-aware refrigerators and self-driven cars showcased in CES 2014, Las Vegas, there will be a sustained and growing market for everything self-managed.

While Google Glass and wearable technology captured international attention, concerns were raised on NSA’s spying abilities that questioned individual privacy. Leading analytics firm Forrester believes that mobile apps that are “able to sense their environment and respond in real-time, anticipate user action, and meet users in their moment of need” will enjoy favourable recall on app stores.

On marketing front, Google’s Hummingbird update has put the spotlight back on relevant and unique content driving SEO success stories. Paid marketing on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn too will define online marketing strategies this year. Mix this with aesthetically minimal and functional web design, and customer engagement is bound to tower above your competition. The digital divide has never been as wide or visible as with small and emerging businesses. Businesses that are unwilling or unable to adopt these trending hot technologies will stay far behind the adopters

With the growing range of devices with which Internet can be accessed, complete digital convergence will be the theme that most businesses will be chasing to achieve. However one should be careful to ensure that technological adoption should not come at the cost of continuous and positive customer engagement.

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And finally, here are two ideas to do something different in 2014:

About the author

Hasnain Zaheer is a Director in Simplogy and leads digital strategy and digital-led business transformation practice. He helps organisations build great digital products, eliminate risks from digital projects, and build capacity and capability in digital teams with coaching, training and workshops.

He is a Certified Practicing Marketer (CPM), Masters in Management (Macquarie Graduate School of Management), qualified Google AdWords Advanced and Reporting & Analysis Professional, and certified in training and assessments among other qualifications.?Learn more or contact him.